Asian stock markets mainly dropped Wednesday, with India going on a roller-coaster ride as its securities regulator sought public debate on a proposal to curb foreign fund inflows from anonymous overseas investors.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 average ended down 1.1 percent at 16,955.31 and the broader Topix index fell 1.5 percent to 1,600.29.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was among the gainers, ending 1.2 percent higher at 29,298.71, after dropping as low as 28,484.20 during a volatile session. The 43-issue Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose 0.5 percent to 19,536.34.
Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ lost 4 percent and Mizuho Financial Group declined 3.8 percent, after both issues sank more than 5 percent Tuesday.
Also lower, shares of Sanyo Electric fell 6.1 percent. The Nikkei business news reported that the company has abandoned negotiations with Advantage Partners LLP over the sale of its semiconductor-making business.
And shares of securities firm Nomura Holdings Inc. fell 5.6 percent on continued selling after it announced plans earlier this week to shutter its U.S. home-lending business in the wake of losses on mortgage-backed securities.
ELSEWHERE:
MUMBAI: The 30-constituent Sensex tumbled 1,743 points to 17,307.90 within minutes of opening, forcing the suspension of trading for an hour.
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi fell 1.1 percent to 1,983.94, sinking as low as 1,933.82 on an intraday basis.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index rose 0.8 percent to 3,839.73.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index lost 0.3 percent to 9,562.16.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2 percent to 6,680.10, pulling back after rising as high as 6,724.30 earlier in the session.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index gained 0.2 percent at 4,321.84.
with files from other wire services
